초록 ▼

A plunger mechanism (100) is formed of a plunger (102) having a cylindrical body with a half-spherical tip (104). The plunger mechanism (100) is overmolded (108) such that half-spherical tip (104) is exposed. The plunger mechanism provides a drop-in component for a housing (404) having a rotary cont

A plunger mechanism (100) is formed of a plunger (102) having a cylindrical body with a half-spherical tip (104). The plunger mechanism (100) is overmolded (108) such that half-spherical tip (104) is exposed. The plunger mechanism provides a drop-in component for a housing (404) having a rotary control (402) with one or more detents (408). The exposed half-spherical tip (104) makes contact with the detents (408) as a rotary control knob (406) is rotated thereby providing improved torque and tactility without the use of springs and without captivation issues.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A plunger and rotary control mechanism comprising: a plunger having a cylindrical body with a first end and a second end, the first end being half-spherical;a silicone or rubber sleeve molded or assembled over the plunger so as to surround the second end of the plunger and to entirely circumferen

1. A plunger and rotary control mechanism comprising: a plunger having a cylindrical body with a first end and a second end, the first end being half-spherical;a silicone or rubber sleeve molded or assembled over the plunger so as to surround the second end of the plunger and to entirely circumferentially surround an axial length of the cylindrical body of the plunger extending from the second end towards the first end, the first end of the plunger protruding through the sleeve so as to expose the half-spherical first end; anda rotary control comprising a detent which rotates in response to the rotary control being rotated, the rotation of the detent hitting the half-spherical tip of the plunger at a predetermined point of rotation generating a rotational torque. 2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second end of the plunger is one of a half-spherical end and a flat end. 3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the plunger mechanism operates as a component for increasing detent. 4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the sleeve extends beyond and behind the second end of the plunger, allowing the plunger mechanism to be compressible without a separate spring. 5. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the plunger is hollow. 6. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the plunger is solid. 7. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is formed of tear-resistant silicone or rubber material. 8. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is formed of a material resistant to predetermined corrosive materials, to a predetermined temperature range, and to a predetermined life-cycle wear. 9. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising: a backer element coupled to a rear portion of the sleeve adjacent the second end of the plunger so as to form a casing adjacent the second end of the plunger. 10. The plunger mechanism of claim 9, wherein the backer element provides an increased surface area for plunger compression adjacent the second end of the plunger. 11. A communication device, comprising: a housing;a cylindrical recess formed within the housing;a plunger mechanism seated within the cylindrical recess, the plunger mechanism comprising: a plunger having a cylindrical body with a first end and a second end, the first end being half-spherical; anda silicone or rubber sleeve molded or assembled over the plunger so as to surround the second end of the plunger and to entirely circumferentially surround an axial length of the cylindrical body of the plunger extending from the second end towards the first end, the first end of the plunger protruding through the sleeve so as to expose the half-spherical first end; anda rotary control coupled to the housing, the rotary control comprising a detent which rotates in response to the rotary control being rotated, the rotation of the detent hitting the half-spherical tip of the plunger mechanism at a predetermined point of rotation generating a rotational torque. 12. The communication device of claim 11, the plunger mechanism further comprising a backer element coupled to a rear portion of the sleeve adjacent the second end of the plunger so as to form a casing adjacent the second end of the plunger wherein the rear portion of the sleeve overmolds and entirely circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the backer element and bonds the backer element to the plunger. 13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the backer element provides an increased surface area for compression of the plunger mechanism into the cylindrical recess. 14. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the sleeve extends beyond and behind the second end of the plunger, allowing the plunger mechanism to be compressible without a separate spring. 15. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the communication device comprises a portable radio or a vehicular radio. 16. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the plunger mechanism provides increased on-off detent. 17. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the plunger mechanism provides a drop-in component into the cylindrical recess for increased on/off detent. 18. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the rotary control comprises additional detents and the plunger mechanism provides transitional stage tactile feedback in response to being rotated against the additional detents. 19. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the rotary control operates as a volume adjustment control of the communication device, and the plunger mechanism provides an on-off detent for the volume adjustment control. 20. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the rotary control comprises additional detents and operates to control channel change of the communication device, the plunger mechanism providing transitional torque at each channel change. 21. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is a silicone sleeve and the silicone comprises compression molded silicone. 22. The mechanism of claim 9, wherein the rear portion of the sleeve overmolds and entirely circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the backer element and bonds the backer element to the plunger. 23. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the sleeve extends beyond the second end of the plunger in substantially a same shape as the portion entirely circumferentially surrounding the portion of the cylindrical body of the plunger. 24. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the sleeve extends beyond the second end of the plunger in substantially a same shape as the portion entirely circumferentially surrounding the portion of the cylindrical body of the plunger.